Pop Up Electrical Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electric supply pop up apparatus for use in a generally horizontal surface that has three main sections, first, a permanently installed, weatherproof containment unit where the unit has a bottom, at least one side wall and an open top; second, a moveable tower that has at least one side wall and a cover; and at least one electrical receptacle module installed in said tower; the tower is slideably moveable within the containment unit so that the tower can be raised or lowered within the containment unit such that when the tower is lowered and in a down position the tower is fully secured and enclosed within the containment unit or the tower can be raised to an up position so that the electrical receptacle module is accessible to a user; and where power is available at the electrical receptacle module when the tower is in the up position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to electrical outlets and receptaclesor data outlets and receptacles, including those which are usuallymounted in walls and other vertical surfaces and are functionallyadapted to receive electrical plugs to supply electric current tovarious electrical appliances and devices or to receive data plugs andconnectors to supply data. More particularly, it relates to anelectrical outlet and receptacle or data assembly which can be openedfrom and retracted to a position below a horizontal surface,specifically a walking surface, to hide and secure the receptacle whensuch is desired or required. It also will provide an environmentally orweather secure way to hide and protect the device when not in use.Additionally, it could be used as a secure, electric vehicle pop upcharging station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has long been recognized that water and other liquids, or dirt andother debris can easily enter electrical outlets and receptacles andcause electrical shorts. This is particularly true where, for example,an electrical outlet is mounted to a horizontal surface, particularlywhen the device is located outside. For that reason, such outlets, whenplaced for industrial use or application, are located either verticallyabove or below the horizontal surface of a walkway or other ambulatorysurface. Any water or liquid situated on that horizontal surface wouldbe incapable of penetrating the outlet located above the horizontalsurface when the outlet is mounted vertically. In the case of a walkwayor other ambulatory surface where there is no physical ability to placesuch an outlet or receptacle above the ground or walkway, simply becausethere is no wall in which to locate the receptacle, the only option isto provide a long cord with a receptacle at the end to provideelectricity or to provide a box that is permanently raised above groundlevel. This is inconvenient, is hazardous, and is not visuallyappealing. Such conventional placement of the electrical outlets,receptacles and cords limits the availability of electricity and theease of access. Additionally, such placement of outlets using cords cancreate fire hazards, can block walkways, can cause liability due to thecords lying on the ground and does not provide for easy access toelectricity. Cords can be cut or damaged to the point of causing a shortcircuit, and subsequently, possible damage to hardware plugged intothem. It can also result in a violation of the National Electrical Code.

With the increased use of electric cars there has been an increaseddesire to have easy yet secure access to electricity. This is currentlybeing done in the United States with charging stations. The presentinvention provides a way to install a secure charging station that wouldprovide a means to secure the charging cables and components when not inuse and would also provide a way to charge users for the use of thestations and the electricity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a new,useful and uncomplicated device that consists of a recessable, pop upelectrical outlet and receptacle that can be flush mounted with theground or walking surface. It is a further object of this invention toprovide such an apparatus which requires only a minimal number ofelements and which requires only a minimal number of steps to utilize.It is yet another object of this invention to provide such an apparatuswhich can be safely used in an environment where water or other liquidsmay, from time to time, be exposed to it and which is in full compliancewith the National Electrical Code. It is a further object of thisinvention to provide an apparatus that is water and weather proof. It isa further object of this invention to provide an apparatus that easilyand conveniently can be raised or lowered into position and thatprovides a safe, secure and reliable means of providing electricityand/or data. It is a final object of this invention to provide anapparatus that can be used as a secure, electric vehicle chargingstation

This invention relates to improvements in under floor electrical accessboxes and more particularly to in ground electrical access box with anabove ground detachable tower containing limited receptacles with noweather protection when in use. Previously, the tower had to bedisconnected from the in ground box and it needed to be stored andtherefore could be stolen or misplaced. Furthermore, when the tower wasinstalled the box cover needed to be stored and thus was also veryeasily misplaced.

The principal objective of the present invention is to provide readilyavailable access to electrical components that when not in use arestored underground in a secure position and when needed will pop up outof the ground ready to use and are water proof both when in use and whenstored. The construction of the invention may be accomplished by use ofconventional materials commonly used in construction of in ground typesof enclosures. The preferred materials used in this embodiment of theinvention, is carbon fiber composite construction, although many othercommonly used materials are acceptable. The pop up apparatus isassembled in a simplified manner to make installation quick and easywhich makes it less expensive to install. It was also the objective ofthis inventor that the one installing the apparatus be considered and soaccess to all connections are accomplished in the easiest mannerpossible.

Another variation of the in ground access apparatus of the presentinvention is an above ground installation in which the components forcharging stations for the electric car are installed inside the pop upapparatus configuration. The components including the charging cablesare protected inside the extremely strong enclosure. The charging cablesare very expensive but to date they hang on the outside of the chargingstation enclosure and are susceptible to vandalism and theft. Theenclosure itself of currently used charging stations is usuallymanufactured from light gauge metals and therefore easy to damage ordestroy. The present invention is preferably made from carbon fiber andother fibers assembled in a composite matrix that makes this box nearlyindestructible. And with the pop up style of this invention all thevital parts of the EV (Electrical Vehicle) charging station, includingthe cables, are inside the enclosure where they are safe and secure.Access to the charging cables and all the electronic devices to monitorthe charging process is achieved with the simple swipe of the user'scredit card or any other verification means, such as a student ID,government ID or the like.

According to the present invention this body of construction consists oftwo major assemblies. The outer enclosure or containment unit, which isextremely strong and serves as the platform for installation in theground or above ground. It is a weather proof structure for connections,motor and other electrical devices needed to operate this invention.

The tower is the second assembly of this body of construction. The towerwill move in and out of the containment unit. The tower contains variouscomponents and connections as may be needed for the particularinstallation. There are several possible ways to move the tower in andout of the containment unit including manually by the user. Unscrew thecover pull it up and latch it in place for use and then release it andlet it back down into the ground again and screw the cover back down.Alternatively, a gas spring pushing the tower up and then the userpushing the tower back down into the containment unit is also an option.The preferred method is the use of a motor and gear box to drive thetower up and down. All of the manual operations must have some kind oflatching system to keep the cover closed and to keep the tower open.There are other methods that may be used but will not be mentioned here.

It is the objective of this invention to meet several and varied uses.It may be installed in ground or above ground depending on the missionof the installation, such as an invisible container for electricaloutlets that when needed they will pop up out of the ground ready foruse. The components are water proof even when in use and so arecompliant with electrical codes and so may be used in all kinds ofweather and environments. The box can be driven over by vehicles andsustain no damage. Parking lots, malls, convention centers, militarybases, airports and airbases are just a few of the places where thistype of box is useful.

The above ground installation has several different applications for thepop up box technology. The outer box can be constructed in such a mannerthat it would be almost indestructible. And as mentioned earlier, it maybe used as an EV (electric vehicle) charging station. Also because thebox is strong and weather proof, it may be installed on marine floatingdocks and fixed piers to supply shore power for ships and boats. It maybe used as a residential charging station such that it could be lockeddown into place. The security of the pop up power station for a privateowner is peace of mind. Not all possible uses are mentioned, but one cansee the possible uses for this invention, and they are varied and many.The one consistency of this invention is the pop up tower inside thecontainment box that gives instant access to a variety of electricalcomponents and data ports in a variety of ways.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is an elevated view of the containment box.

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the containment box.

FIG. 2A is an elevated view of the tower.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the upper connector block.

FIG. 3B is an elevated view of the upper connected block.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of the lower connector block.

FIG. 4B is an elevated view of the lower connector block.

FIG. 5 is an elevated view of the power pylon.

FIG. 6A-6C are various elevated views of the sloped module.

FIG. 7A-7C are various elevated views of the flat module.

FIG. 8A is an elevated view of the cover.

FIG. 8B is a plan view of the cover.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of the electronic controller.

FIG. 10 is an elevated view of the complete Pop up Apparatus.

FIG. 11A is the pop up apparatus fully closed in the standard art ofconcrete installation.

FIG. 11B is the standard apparatus in concrete installation part way up.

FIG. 11C is the apparatus in the standard installation with the towerfully open and cables attached in the modules.

FIG. 12A is the above ground pedestal mount of an EV (Electric Vehicle)Charging station in the closed position.

FIG. 12B is the above ground pedestal mount of an EV (Electric Vehicle)Charging station in the full open position.

FIG. 13 (Prior Art) There are 2 other pop up style apparatuses currentlyavailable and both are designed for and used in an inside countertopconfiguration. They both carry one component and cannot be used outside.When both the units are in use they are not water proof. One is a Thomasand Betts product and the other is U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,405 to Obermann.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Electrical connections are used in everyday applications from house holdappliances to industrial machinery and now to hybrid and fullyelectrical cars. Access to these electrical connections varies dependingon location and need. Typically these electrical connections are inplain sight; on walls, ceilings, extension cords with multi-prong plugsand counter tops. They can also be found in floors, at or below floorlevel, hanging down from the ceiling, and installed into a ceiling.Connections are also used extensively outside mounted in the same mannerwith water resistant covers to protect from shock hazards and to protectagainst the environment.

Many spaces, both outside and inside, have areas or rooms that haveintermittent and/or permanent need for electrical connections of bothlow and high voltage options, in some instances for example, in themiddle of a large room or outside for charging stations and the like.These spaces may call for there to be an electrical connection withoutthe outlet being obtrusive in nature due to having spatial and/or visualrestrictions and still be easily accessible.

The present embodiment of the pop up apparatus relates to improvementsto subfloor or sub-ground electrical access boxes, specifically toin-ground electrical access boxes and an above ground detachable towercontaining limited receptacles with no weather protection. Currently,when the tower is disconnected from the in-ground box extra space isneeded to store the tower. This can cause the detachable tower to belost or damaged. The current invention either solves or eliminates theseproblems and issues.

The principal objective of the present invention is to provide easyaccess to electrical components stored underground in a secure andwaterproof position when not in use. The construction of the inventionis accomplished by use of conventional materials commonly used in theconstruction of these types of enclosures. The enclosure is designed tomake installation quick and easy, thus minimizing the time required forinstallation and ultimately cutting the cost to the consumer.

According to the present invention the first embodiment of constructionconsists of four major assemblies: a containment unit 100, a tower 200,a power pylon 500, and module 600, 700. It is readily apparent that theabove-described embodiments have the advantage of wide commercialutility. It should be understood that the specific form of the inventionhereinabove described is intended to be representative only, as certainmodifications within the scope of these teachings will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, reference should be made to theclaims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Containment Unit

In a first embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B (showing thebox from a side view (FIG. 1B) and an elevated view of the top (FIG.1A), the containment unit 100 is a water proof structure designed tohouse electrical connections that are made between line wires enteringthe containment unit 100 through the conduit connection flats 112 andconnecting to the power distribution blocks 513. This unit 100 consistsof a circular base 115 with side walls 114 and an open top with crown101. The containment unit 100 is made from readily available materialsstrong enough to maintain its shape under large loads, specifically,when installed underground the unit will have weight applied on the top,whether it be people, cars, trucks, aircraft or the like. Thus, the unitmust be able to withstand pressure, weight and force. Containment unit100 also provides the housing for tower 200 (FIG. 2) and all partswithin tower 200. Crown 101 an inverted ring with a gasket 102 mountedon the horizontal surface to form the platform for cover 800 (FIG. 8)and upper connector block 300 (FIG. 3). Gasket 102 provides a waterproof seal when the unit is in the closed position. The vertical edge ofthe crown 101 serves as the form for the finish grade for containmentunit 100 when installed in concrete. The upper connector is secured tothe crown using screws via screw holes or Nut certs 109 that arepositioned around the crown 101 to secure upper connector block 300(FIG. 3).

In FIG. 1 there are four wire ways 107 shown and these wire ways 107 areattached to the inside side walls in four places to protect wiring (notshown). In this embodiment one of the wire ways is left empty so as toprovide an option for an installer to add data lines or communicationlines. This is important that these lines be separated from theelectrical lines as the electrical lines can interfere with the datalines. The remaining three wire ways 107 are used for electrical wiringfor the device. All the wire ways 107 serve as the mount for connector103, containing pin receptacle 104, and low voltage (LV) connector 105,containing LV pin receptacle 106. These also serve as guide rails forthe motion and movement of tower 200. Anchors 108 are attached to thebase 115 of containment unit 100 to mount power pylon 500 (FIG. 5), whenthe unit is configured to be raised and lowered with a power unit. Inthis powered embodiment anchors 108 are threaded rods, Ground stud 111is mounted to the side 114 of containment unit 100 and is there toground the unit. A heater 113 may also be installed into containmentunit 100 to prevent moisture in the containment unit 100. Conduit entryflat 112 is built into or attached to the side of containment unit 100in order to attach incoming conduit to a round surface. Installationbrackets 110 are installed to the outside of the side 114 of containmentunit 100 to facilitate underground installation. As is known in priorart, in ground boxes are held in position via all thread attached to therebar, used in a concrete pour. The all thread in turn is attached tothe containment unit 100 by running the all thread through the hole inthe installation brackets 110. The installation bracket 110 issandwiched between two nuts, one above the bracket 110 and the otherbelow. The nuts may be moved up or down on the all thread to level thecontainment unit 100 and particularly the upper edge of the crown 101with the finish grade of the concrete pour.

The line wiring that is attached to the power distribution blocks (PDB)514 passes through the wire ways 107 and connect to the pin receptacles104 which are mounted in the receptacle 103 which are mounted to the topof the wire way 107. The low voltage connector 307 has several sourcesof wires. The wires may come from the low voltage transformer 513directly. They may come through the PLC 515 as control circuitry. Or aslow voltage wiring coming in through the conduit entry flats 112 wherethey enter directly into the bottom of the wire way 107. They attach topin receptacle 106 which is mounted in the connector 105 mounted at thetop of the wire way 107. The wire ways 107 provide a protected passagefor all wires from the bottom of the unit 100 to the top of the unit 100and serve as a guide for the tower 200 as it moves up and down withinthe containment unit 100.

The high voltage and low voltage connections are made through theirrespective connectors. As the upper, first connector block 300 isinstalled on the crown 101 the connector 305 and its pins 306 and pins304 and its connector mate 303 with the pin receptacles 106 and 104which are mounted in their connector 105 and 103 which are mounted atthe top of the wire way 107. The wire ways are mounted to the side wall114 of the containment unit 100. Connector pins 306 and 304 areconnected by the wires (not shown) that are molded in the firstconnector block 300 to the connector pins 308 and 302 respectively whichare mounted in their connector 307 and 301 which are mounted in theupper, first connector block 300. Then as the tower 200 is moved to thefull up position the pins 308 and 302 in the connector 307 and 301 whichare mounted in the upper connector block 300 contacts the pinreceptacles 404 and 402 which are mounted in their connector 403 and 401which are mounted in the lower, second connector block 400 which isattached to the tower 200. From these pin receptacles 404 low voltage(LV) and 402 high voltage (HV) wires run to the various componentsmounted in the tower 200.

At the top of the containment enclosure 100 is the crown 101 which is aninverted ring. On the horizontal surface of the crown 101 is the gasket102 that provides a watertight seal between the upper, first connectorblock 300 and the crown 101. The upper edge of the inverted ring thatforms the crown 101 is the finish grade for the concrete if the unit isinstalled in the concrete.

Tower

Tower 200 (FIG. 2) is the second assembly of this first embodiment bodyconstruction. Tower 200 is constructed with commonly used materials thatare strong enough to provide structure and protection for all itemsinstalled within. The tower consists of a square structure with miteredcorners, however, the design is not limited to a square tower as itcould be round, rectangular, oblong, or any other design. A recess 205is located on the side of tower 200 to provide a flush mount for themodule and door. Within recess 205 is an opening 203 for the module 600,700 to pass through when installed in the tower. The holes 204 are formounting the module 600, 700 with screws 606, 607. Switch 202 isinstalled inside the tower, positioned in line with hole 206 so that thePLC 515 knows that the door is closed and it is safe to bring the towerdown. A gasket 207 is installed to recess 205, to waterproof the moduleinstallation.

Cover 800 (FIG. 8) is attached to the top of tower 200 (FIG. 2). This ismanufactured of materials of sufficient thickness and toughness to bearlarge loads without breakage or deformity. Molded into the perimeter ofthe cover 800 are LED lights 802 for visual identification when thetower is in the open position. The lights are turned on as a function ofthe first and second connector blocks 300 and 400 coming together asdescribed above. First safety ring 801, and its counterpart secondsafety ring 803 are mounted around the perimeter of cover 800. Membrane804 is used to cover first and second safety rings 801, 803. Themembrane 804 is attached to second safety ring 803 and to the bottom ofthe cover 800 to allow the second safety ring 803 to hang below firstsafety ring 801. The first safety ring 801, and second safety ring 803are only active when the tower is within one inch of being fully closed.In this situation, if the safety ring is touched, the lower ring 803will be moved up to where it contacts the upper ring 801 sending asignal to the PLC 515 and reverses the direction of the tower 200. Cover800 is permanently attached to tower 200 by various methods depending onthe materials used.

Second connector block 400 (FIG. 4) is attached permanently to thebottom of tower 200 (FIG. 2). The overall shape of lower connector block400 will match the inside shape of containment unit 100 (FIG. 1), whichin this embodiment is circular. Around the perimeter of lower, firstconnector block 400 is notch 406 which coincides with the position ofwire way 107 in containment unit 100. The shape shown is to reducesurface friction. In the center of second connector block 400 is openspace 407 for clearance of power pylon 500 (FIG. 5) mounted to thebottom of the containment unit 100.

Second connector block 400 (FIG. 4) has two thicknesses. The lowerportion is made of material of sufficient strength and thickness tosolidly mount the connectors of differing wires. The upper portion ofthe second connector block 400 is tapered on the outside edge to matchthe taper on the first connector block 300 (FIG. 3), forming awatertight joint when the tower 200 is in the full up position. Passthrough 405 is made for wires (not shown) to go through lower connectorblock 400, from connectors 401 containing pin receptacle 402, andconnector 403, containing low voltage pin receptacle 404, to insidetower 200 (FIG. 2). Pin 409 is installed in second connector block 400in position to coincide with pin receptacle 519. Lower connector block400 will also transfer any forces directed perpendicular to the motionof tower 200 (FIG. 2) into the surrounding containment unit 100 (FIG.1). Lower connector block 400 will be attached to tower 200 usingstandard methods related to the materials used.

First connector block 300 (FIG. 3) upper portion is made to the generalshape and size of crown 101 (FIG. 1) and secured by screw 311. The lowerportion of the first connector block 300 is made to the same size andshape as the inner wall of the containment unit 100. Gasket 313 isinstalled to the top of upper connector block 300 to form a seal betweenthe cover 200 and the first connector block 300. The opening 312 in themiddle of the first connector block 300 is for a pass through for thetower 200. It is dimensioned such that it is approximately the same sizeas the outer size and shape of tower 200 (FIG. 2). The lower, thickerportion of the first connector block 300 is also tapered to match theupper portion of the second connector block 400 to form a watertightseal. The first connector block 300 should be made from materials withsufficient strength to not fracture when forces are applied from alldirections.

First connector block 300 should also be constructed to an overallthickness to fully enclose connectors 301, 303, and low voltageconnectors 305, 307. There should be no gap between first and secondconnector blocks 300, 400 when the tower 200 is in the full up position.It should be noted here that the first connector block needs to bebetween the cover 800 and the second connector block before 400 and 800are attached to the tower. Connector 301 containing pin 302, and lowvoltage (LV) connector 307 containing LV pin 308, are mounted in thesame position as the coinciding connector 401, 403 (FIG. 4) in secondconnector block 400. Switch 309 is mounted in upper connector block 300as a limit switch to stop motor 511 (FIG. 5) when tower 200 is in thefully up position.

First connector block 300 has two thicknesses. The upper portion is madeto the size and shape of crown 101 (FIG. 1). Thickness is determined bythe thickness of cover 800 (FIG. 8A) on tower 200 (FIG. 2). This allowscover 800 to be flush with the top of crown 101 when lowered and closed.The lower portion is made to the size and shape of containment unit 100.The outer edge of this lower section is the same size and angle as theinside edge of the inside of the containment unit 100. This fit allowsthe forces applied to the first connector block 300 to be transferred tothe containment unit 100 and the surrounding area. This allows the unitto support more weight. First connector block 300 is mounted tocontainment unit 100 using matching screws 311 that attach to inserts109. The lower portion extending into containment unit 100. Connector303 containing pins 304, 305 containing Iv pin 306 match the position ofthe connector 103, 105 mounted in containment unit 100. There is agasket 102 between the first connector block and the horizontal portionof the crown 101 for water tight fit.

There are several methods to extend and contract the tower 200 withincontainment unit 100. The tower 200 could be raised or lowered into theup and down positions manually, simply by lifting the tower up andlocking it in place. Alternatively, the tower 200 could be liftedmanually but with a mechanical assist, such as a spring or othermechanical device to assist in raising the tower out of the containmentunit. Finally, the tower 200 could be raised or lowered using a poweredsystem. These embodiments are more fully described below.

Power Pylon

Power pylon 500 (FIG. 5) encompasses all the components for moving thetower 200 (FIG. 2) in and out of the containment unit 100. In thisembodiment the raising and lowering motion is achieved through motor511, gear box 510 and acme thread 505. Power pylon 500 is made frommaterial with sufficient strength to withstand the forces from theraising and lowering of the tower from the containment unit 100. Theseforces can be both rotational and planar.

Gearbox 510 is mounted to the top of power pylon 500. The motor 511, ismounted to the bottom side of the gear box 510 and has sufficienthorsepower and torque to raise and lower the tower 200 and all itscomponents. The Acme thread 505 is installed through torque tube 504Acme nut 502 and bushing 516 inside gearbox 510.

Shaft stabilizer 506 is attached to gear box 510 to support the acme nut502, acme thread 505 and stabilizes the column. Torque tube 504 isinstalled over acme thread 505 inside shaft stabilizer 506. Torque tubecollar 503 is attached to torque tube 504. Bushing 516a is installedbetween torque tube collar 503 and shaft stabilizer 506. Acme nut 502 isinstalled above torque tube collar 503 on torque tube 504. The end ofacme thread 505 has an inner thread for attaching screw 501. The Acmethread 505 is attached to the cover 800 and drives the tower 200 in andout of the containment unit 100.

Power supply 513 is mounted to the inside wall of the power pylon 500.The power supply 513 receives input from incoming wires and convertsthat power from 110 volts to 12 volts. As the motor 511, ProgrammableLogic Control (PLC) and all the control circuitry and lights are lowvoltage we need to convert the power to 12 volts. Programmable logiccontrol (PLC) 515 is also attached to the inside wall of power pylon500. Switch 512 is attached to support 517 which is attached to thebottom of power pylon 500. This switch is the down limit switch thattells the PLC that the box is closed. Power distribution blocks 514 areattached to the inside wall of power pylon 500. Pin receptacle 518 isattached to the outside wall of power pylon 500. These pins areconnected by wires to the first and second safety rings 801, 803 andconnect the first and second safety rings 801, 803 to the receptaclethat are attached to the PLC 515. This connection must be made in thisway because in the preferred embodiment there is no power to the towerwhen the tower is in travel. These pins only connect when the tower 200is within 1 inch of being fully closed. That way the safety rings 801,803 are engaged for a short period of time. There is a detent near thetop of the pins 518 so that the circuit is interrupted and the tower 200may go all the way down into the containment unit 100. The power pylon500 is held down to the bottom of the containment unit 100 with the useof the four (4) threaded rods anchor 108 at the base 115 of thecontainment unit 100. These rods are quite long so the attaching nutthat hold the power pylon 500 in place can be attached at the top of thepower pylon 500. Holes in both the bottom of power pylon 500 and gearbox510 are placed to coincide with the position of anchor 108 (FIG. 1) oncontainment unit 100. In this embodiment power pylon 500 is secured bynut 509 screwed onto anchor 108.

Module

Electrical components are installed in module 600, 700 (FIGS. 6 & 7) andthen the module is installed into tower 200 (FIG. 2). Module 600, 700 ismade from material with sufficient strength to support components ofvarious shapes, sizes, and weight. FIG. 6 shows a sloped module 600 andFIG. 7 shows a flat module 700. Both ramifications have flange 615, 715for mounting to tower 200. Door 602, 702 have lock 604, 704 installed toclose and lock the component when the tower is up. This is to preventinadvertent unplugging of connections and to keep water out of thecomponent if there is a wash down when the tower 200 is up. Door 602,702 is attached to module 600, 700 with hinge 601, 701. Door 602, 702has pin 609, 709 on the closing side. When door 602, 702 is closed pin609, 709 passes thru hole 611, 711 in flange 615, 715 to activate switch202 (FIG. 2) on tower 200. The switch 202 serves a dual purpose in thatit tells the PLC 515 that the door is closed and it is safe to retractthe tower 200 and turn off the light 606, 706 in the module 600, 700.Light 606, 706 source is installed on the inside module 600, 700. Gasket603,703 applied to flange with sticky back tape or glue or some otherapproved method. Screw 607, 707 is used in hole 612, 712 to securemodule 600, 700 to tower 200 (FIG. 2).

Catch 608 is installed on sloped module 600 for lock 604. It ispositioned to close door 602 completely. Offset 610 is formed on flange615 of module 600. Cutout 613 is positioned on hinge 601 side slope ofmodule 600. Cutout 613 size and shape depend on the component beinginstalled.

Flat module 700 has catch 708 which lock 704 passes through. Module 700is the correct size for lock 704 to hold door 702 fully closed. Cutout713 is positioned in module 700 opposite door 702. Cutout 713 size andshape varies for the component being installed.

There are other methods to raise and lower the tower 200, such asmanually. This method would require some sort of latching system to holdthe tower 200 down in the containment unit 100 and then to hold thetower in the full up position. A handle would be installed flush orotherwise into the cover. A locking mechanism would set once the towerwas at the determined height and allow it to fall back into the closedposition. A locking mechanism would then be engaged to lock the tower inplace. The latching system would have to be sophisticated enough to beeasily manipulated by the user.

Additionally, a gas spring can be put in place of the power pylon topush the tower out of the containment unit. A locking mechanism wouldthen be engaged to lock the tower in place. A button or other actuatorwould be pushed to unlock the tower and operator would apply enoughforce to push the tower back into the containment unit.

A hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder can also be used to open and close thetower. A valve, switch, button etc. would activate the cylinder pushingthe tower out of the containment unit. Reversing action would make thetower retract into the containment unit. Other various motionconfigurations can work with the same results, such as a scissor lift,rack and pinion, pulley, etc.

Operation—First Embodiment

The manner of using the Pop up apparatus in this embodiment is toprovide access to various electrical components. The pop up apparatus isinstalled in a manner sufficient to allow the tower to open and closeabove or flush with surface. Wiring is run into the Pop-up apparatusthrough conduit entry points. Power is provided to the powerdistribution block. However, when the pop up apparatus is in the closed,or down position the power is disconnected from the tower assembly. Inthe closed position the cover and crown are flush with surfaceinstallation.

To access the electrical components the operator activates a switch,either on the cover or via a wireless connection, thus activating themotor inside. The motor drives the tower to its full open, up position.This engages connections between the first and second connector blocks,providing power to the components. Components are accessed by openingthe module door and plugging in the appropriate plug. The door can beclosed and secured with lock while allowing sufficient space for cordclearance.

Upon completion of use, all plugs are removed and module door is closed.Switches inside the modules verify that the module doors are completelyclosed and secured before the motor can be activated to return tower toclosed, or down position. A safety ring is provided along the undersideof the cover. When activated the safety ring mechanism will reversemotor direction and will return tower to the full open position. Thesafety ring is activated if there is an obstruction between the coverand the crown during the closing process, and will reverse the motor soas to prevent injury. If there are no obstructions the tower will returnto the closed position.

Description of Above Ground Mount Electric Car Charging Station

The electric vehicle charging station (EV) is one above groundapplication of the pop-up apparatus that deserves expanding upon.

In this embodiment the below ground containment box is alternativelyemployed as a pedestal above ground. This is accomplished by using amounting flange that is attached to the ground with 4 bolts. These boltsare anchored in concrete by common method. The pedestal is constructedto withstand a vehicle impact without serious damage to its innerworkings. The size of the pedestal should be large enough to be easilyseen and tall enough to access a user validation, verification system,such as a card reader, and car charging cables without excess reachingor bending over. This will be approximately 40″ tall when the tower isin the closed, or down position.

Installed on the pedestal will be the user verification system, thatcould be a card reader that initializes the activation of the EV. Thissystem could be a credit card reader, an ID reader, or any other systemthat would allow a qualified user access to the system. When the EV unitis activated by the consumer the tower will move up and out of thepedestal, carrying with it the charging cables and a retracting drum towhich the cables are attached. After the tower is in the full open andup position the consumer can remove the cable from its seat. The usercan then plug this into the receptacle on the electric vehicle. Thecomputer interface between the car and the electric provider willconnect and charge the battery. If during any time the connection isbroken between the car and the EV unit, the unit will turn off and thecable or cables will be retracted by motor driven drums. When the cableis back in the seat the tower will automatically return to the closedposition.

If the cable is released from the car prior to being finished withcharging, it may not be plugged into that or another vehicle until thetower has been returned to the fully closed position and is there-released into the up position. This prevents the theft of power fromone vehicle to another. Currently the connector available in the EV unitis the standard SAEJ1772 Combo Connector. With this connector theconsumer will be able to quick charge or slow charge their vehicle.

All transactions will go through the network attached to the owner ofthe individual EV unit. In other words, the present application is onlyfor the mechanical box and not for the software and operationalsoftware.

The Pop up apparatus of the present invention is ideal for use in the EVindustry because to date the cables have been hung on the outside of thebox and all of the electronics, keypad, keypad and screens have beenexposed to theft and vandalism. The cables themselves are in excess of$300 to replace and the wire value to the thief is substantial enough tomake them desirable to steal. Thus, a system that is easy to access anduse, that provides easy access to the cables, provides a means to chargefor this access and that provides a way to secure and contain cableswhen not in use is extremely desirable.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

The reader will see that the use of this embodiment of an electricalenclosure can be used to access electrical components easily in aneither an above ground position or below ground position. The enclosurecan be easily secured and is able to meet visual and spatialrestrictions. In addition the enclosure is self-contained and partscannot be lost or damaged when not in use. Furthermore features can beadded or removed as needed by the customer. It should be noted thatvarious materials can be used with equal results, such as steel,stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, nylon, composites or resins, wood,concrete, etc. Welding, break forming, castings, molding, gluing, commonfasteners etc. are standard methods of construction that can be used formaking and assembling parts with equal results. Other embodiments, partsmethods can be employed that are known in the industry that include butare not limited to the following.

The lift can be of other various motion configurations that can workwith the same results; scissor lift, rack and pinion, pulley, etc. Withrespect to the acme thread it does not have to be limited to 1 threadand can be any number desired. With respect to the guides, the guidesfor the tower motion in and out of the containment unit can be separateparts from the conduit. The bearing can be a ball bearing or other typeof glide installed into or below the tower. The guides can come invarious shapes and sizes and match the bearing/glide. This could includewheels attached to the tower, spring rollers etc. The tower could bemade as one piece or separate pieces and then assembled together. Theopenings in the tower could be different shapes such as round, square,triangle, elliptical, etc. and in different number or orientationdepending on the size of the tower and module. The cover can havevarying number and combinations of lights in available colors, sizes andpositions as long as it remains structurally sound. The lights can alsobe excluded from the cover altogether and the cover further can be madeto allow installation of other materials on top, such as wood flooring,tile, carpet, etc. The gear can be changed in size and orientation tomodify the open and close speed and force of the tower. Mountingbrackets can be moved from the side to the base of the containment unit,and generally the size and shape of the containment unit and towerassembly can vary depending on number components and applicationdesired.

Although the above description contains many specifics, these should notbe constructed as limiting embodiments but merely providingillustrations of different embodiments. Thus the scope of theembodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legalequivalents rather than the examples given.

What I claim is:
 1. An electric supply pop up apparatus for use in agenerally horizontal surface comprising: a permanently installed,weatherproof containment unit where said unit has a bottom, at least oneside wall and an open top; a moveable tower that has at least one sidewall and a cover; at least one electrical receptacle module installed insaid tower; where said tower is slideably moveable within saidcontainment unit so that said tower can be raised or lowered within saidcontainment unit such that when said tower is lowered and in a downposition said tower is fully secured and enclosed within saidcontainment unit or said tower can be raised to an up position so thatsaid electrical receptacle module is accessible to a user; and wherepower is available at said electrical receptacle module when said toweris in said up position.
 2. The electric supply pop up apparatus of claim1 where said tower is moved between said up and down positions manually.3. The electric supply pop up apparatus of claim 1 where said tower ismoved between said up and down positions manually but with a mechanicalassist.
 4. The electric supply pop up apparatus of claim 1 where saidtower is moved between said up and down positions but with a powerassist.
 5. The electric supply pop up apparatus of claim 1 where saidpop up apparatus can provide both low voltage and high voltageelectricity.
 6. The electric supply pop up apparatus of claim 1 thatfurther includes a heating element.
 7. The electric supply pop upapparatus of claim 1 where said pop up apparatus is used as an electricvehicle charging station.
 8. The electric supply pop up apparatus ofclaim 7 where said pop up apparatus further comprises: a means to secureand contain electric vehicle charging components so that said componentsare available to a user when said pop up apparatus is in said upposition but are unavailable and secured when said pop up apparatus isin said down position.
 9. The electric supply pop up apparatus of claim8 that further comprises a user access device that will qualify saiduser and thereafter will allow access to said electric vehicle chargingcomponents and electric power from said pop up apparatus.
 10. Anelectric supply pop up apparatus for use in a generally horizontalsurface comprising: a permanently installed weatherproof containmentunit where the unit has a bottom, at least one side wall, a firstconnector block, an open top, and a crown; a moveable tower that has atleast one side wall, a second connector block, and a cover; at least oneelectrical receptacle module installed in said tower; said tower isslideably moveable within said containment unit so that said tower canbe raised or lowered within said containment unit such that when saidtower is lowered and in a down position said tower is fully secured andenclosed within said containment unit or said tower can be raised to anup position so that said electrical receptacle module is accessible to auser; said first connector block and said second connector block areconnectable to each other at said up position; and when connected poweris made available to said electrical receptacle module.
 11. The electricsupply pop up apparatus of claim 10 where said tower is moved betweensaid up and down positions manually.
 12. The electric supply pop upapparatus of claim 10 where said tower is moved between said up and downpositions manually but with a mechanical assist.
 13. The electric supplypop up apparatus of claim 10 where said tower is moved between said upand down positions electronically.
 14. The electric supply pop upapparatus of claim 10 where said pop up apparatus can provide both lowvoltage and high voltage electricity.
 15. The electric supply pop upapparatus of claim 10 that further includes a heating element.
 16. Theelectric supply pop up apparatus of claim 10 where said pop up apparatusis used as an electric vehicle charging station.
 17. The electric supplypop up apparatus of claim 16 where said pop up apparatus furthercomprises a means to secure and contain electric vehicle chargingcomponents so that said components are available to a user when said popup apparatus is in said up position but are unavailable and secured whensaid pop up apparatus is in said down position.
 18. The electric supplypop up apparatus of claim 17 that further comprises a user access devicethat will qualify said user and thereafter will allow access to saidelectric vehicle charging components and electric power from said pop upapparatus.
 19. An electric supply pop up apparatus for use in agenerally horizontal surface for use as a electric vehicle chargingstation comprising: a permanently installed weatherproof containmentunit where the unit has a bottom, at least one side wall, a firstconnector block, an open top, and a crown; a moveable tower that has atleast one side wall, a second connector block that is connectable tosaid first connector block, and a cover; an electric vehicle chargingcomponents; a storage means to secure and contain said electric vehiclecharging components so that said components are available to a user whensaid pop up apparatus is in an up position but are unavailable andsecured when said pop up apparatus is in a down position; a user accessdevice that will qualify said user and thereafter will allow access tosaid electric vehicle charging components and electric power from saidpop up apparatus; whereby when tower is activated by a user a cable forcharging said electric vehicle is released from an internal storagedevice via a pulley and when said user is finished using said stationsaid cable is then automatically retracted and stored via said pulleyand is stored within said containment unit; said tower is slideablymoveable within said containment unit so that said tower can be raisedor lowered within said containment unit such that when said tower islowered and in said down position said tower is fully secured andenclosed within said containment unit, or said tower can be raised tosaid up position so that said charging components are accessible to saiduser and where said first and second connector block are connectedthereby allowing power availability to said charging components.